Near the City of Supernaturals.
Having slain the fifth Immortal demon plant, Li Hao frowned slightly and halted his steps.
His domain remained expanded.
By now, the little jujube tree had retreated into a storage ring and refused to emerge again, while Redwood could not. As a true body, it was too powerful; entering a storage ring would only shatter the artifact under its own weight and cast it into a spatial rift.
At this moment, Redwood had shrunk into a miniature tree, clinging tightly to Li Hao's body in profound nervousness.
It had grown much stronger!
Li Hao's domain was continually expanding, threatening to rupture under the strain. Once it burst, Redwood would be in grave danger.
"Governor-General... why have you stopped?"
Countless thoughts raced through Redwood's mind in an instant. *Does he want to finish me off? Does he think I've consumed too much?*
Yet, ever since they had slain the third demon plant, it had barely absorbed anything more, at most drawing a fraction to offset its exertion and mend its own injuries.
Li Hao shook his head, his brow furrowed. Only after a long pause did he speak. "The energy... do you feel it?"
"What?"
Li Hao frowned. "I said the energy! Void energy! The ambient energy in this area has grown significantly denser."
Redwood quickly answered, "That is normal. Under ordinary circumstances, we draw energy from the void. Now five have fallen, their root systems shattered and no longer siphoning void energy. Naturally, the energy in this region would begin to rebound."
Li Hao's frown deepened.
After another long pause, he said, "We cannot kill any more!"
Redwood started. *Why?*
In truth, it had nearly absorbed its fill as well. Even so, they had already come this far. Counting itself, there were still six left unslain.
"We've only killed five, and energy is already beginning to rebound..."
Li Hao frowned. "If this continues, the energy here will surge rapidly. Strange... does heaven and earth generate its own energy?"
"It does!"
Redwood offered a definitive confirmation. "Indeed it does. The energy of heaven and earth is constant. Once enough people die, especially powerful experts, and there is no one left to absorb it, that energy disperses back into the world. Furthermore, latent reserves hidden deep within will also be stimulated."
At this point, Redwood seemed to realize something as well.
Pausing, it spoke slowly. "Does the Governor-General mean... the second... resurgence?"
Li Hao frowned, sensing the ambient energy around them, and nodded. "The rapid rebound of nearby energy is very likely linked to the large number of Divine Power experts we slaughtered, followed immediately by five demon plants. If this continues, an energy tide will soon form here, which might trigger the second resurgence ahead of schedule."
*Damn it!*
He had only just perceived the anomaly himself, and only because his five forces were attuned to heaven and earth.
This was not merely an issue of halting today's slaughter.
More critically, there was a massive mine over in Heavenly Star City.
Previously, numerous demon plants had been stationed there, absorbing the energy spilling over from the great mine. But if too many demon plants died, would that trigger a catastrophic upheaval?
If the mine's escaping energy had no demon plants left to consume it, a violent deluge of mine energy would erupt.
An energy tide would burst forth, instantly igniting the second resurgence.
At that moment, he recalled the first resurgence. Back then, energy across heaven and earth had been sparse, yet a mineral vein had exploded simply because too much stagnant energy had accumulated. In all likelihood, that ruin lacked any demon plant capable of siphoning off the backlog.
That was why the first energy tide had occurred.
Li Hao remained rooted in place, murmuring softly, "In other words, if demon plants never revived and chose to remain dormant without absorbing any energy, the second resurgence would arrive very quickly on its own. Heaven and earth restores its own energy!"
Redwood pondered for a moment before replying, "That is true in principle. But does the Governor-General truly believe that once we awakened and knew how frail we were, anyone would willingly forgo absorbing energy?"
Thus, relying on demon plants to abstain so that ambient energy could build up naturally to trigger the second resurgence... was practically impossible.
Who would refuse to absorb it?
Back then, the little tree had driven its roots into the void just to extract nearby energy. Over in Silver Moon, who wasn't draining every scrap they could to restore themselves?
Everyone lived in terror of falling behind and having it snatched away by another.
Li Hao considered the matter for a short while before speaking promptly. "We must transplant Senior Jujube Tree's true body here to siphon off the energy. Otherwise, this excessive density will invite serious trouble."
There were still six demon plants remaining in this region. Even so, the territories previously held by the five slain demon plants were already seeing their energy rebound rapidly. Left unchecked, a violent energy surge would soon break out here, potentially sweeping across the entire Central Region.
Only now did Li Hao realize how fraught this situation truly was.
He had killed very few before, so he hadn't paid it any mind.
Today, he had slain five in one breath, abruptly eliminating five bottomless appetites, and the problem had immediately surfaced.
Sky Sword wore an odd expression. "So we aren't killing any more? Besides, is transplanting the jujube tree even useful?"
He considered the jujube tree exceedingly weak—what good would transplanting it do?
Furthermore, "If the jujube tree is transplanted away, won't an energy tide erupt back at my Sky Sword Mountain?"
Li Hao paused, then said after a moment, "It won't."
"Why not?" Sky Sword asked.
Li Hao was sorely tempted to ignore the question, but Hong Yitang cleared his throat and chimed in. "Just look at that little tree starving down to skin and bones, and you'll have your answer. Energy isn't abundant over there, and it hasn't had a proper meal in ages. It's practically on the brink of starvation. Where would the energy to trigger an energy tide come from?"
"..."
Sky Sword looked somewhat embarrassed. The way they spoke, it sounded like his personal fault.
Did he have any money to spare?
Over the years, managing to scrape together several million divine energy stones to trade for resources had already been an achievement. If these penniless wretches from Silver Moon hadn't latched onto a wealthy patron like Li Hao, would they have the gall to insinuate he was poor?
*Even if I'm poor, I was richer than all of you!*
*You lot used to break every single divine energy stone into crumbs!*
Lin Hongyu understood the situation as well by now, her brows knitting slightly. "Does that mean we cannot kill the other demon plants?"
"It isn't that we can't kill them!" Li Hao smiled. "We simply cannot kill them today. Once I transplant a few half-starved demon plants over here to calm the regional energy tides, we can slaughter them at our leisure. The world has no shortage of starving demon plants!"
In Battle Heaven City alone, for instance, a full thirty-six of them were on the verge of starvation.
If he transplanted them to various energy-rich regions in sufficient numbers, no energy tide would ever have the chance to erupt.
What a joke!
When they were already starving to death, where would any surplus energy come from?
Back in Silver Moon, they had nearly beaten each other's brains out over scraps.
One main city had thirty-seven of them—what about eight main cities?
Every last one was on death's door from hunger.
None could outcompete the others. For the little tree to snatch even a sliver had been no easy feat. Of course, it had only ever managed a sliver, which was why it had been utterly destitute; the moment it saw Li Hao's wealth, it had bolted after him without hesitation.
Across the vast expanse of Silver Moon, not a single scrap of energy remained in the void!
Otherwise, the supernaturals of Silver Moon wouldn't have been driven to desperate straits, forced to flee toward the Central Region. While the Central Region had no shortage of demon plants either, they were far fewer compared to Silver Moon. Moreover, with a great mine located here, they had barely managed to scrape by, leaving enough ambient residue in the void for supernaturals to absorb.
Silver Moon, on the other hand, had been drained dry to the very last drop.
Lin Hongyu quickly asked, "If we proceed this way, will any complications arise?"
"None. We'll capture every expert from the eleven clans and seal off their ruins. They won't be able to run!"
Originally, Li Hao hadn't wished to move against these people so soon, lest it cause too great a stir.
Now, however, he had no choice.
Otherwise, heaven knew what kind of chaos those demon plants would stir up.
He would start by sealing off the remaining six clans.
Once the energy here had dispersed a bit and been absorbed, he could eliminate them one by one.
"Also, Senior Redwood, return to your original position immediately, take root, and absorb the void energy. Do not let an energy tide erupt around the City of Supernaturals, or we will have immense trouble on our hands!"
At this moment, Li Hao was the very last person who wanted the second resurgence to begin.
Redwood didn't want it either.
Right now, it could still gorge itself; once the resurgence fully took hold, immense peril might follow.
Seeing this, Director Zhou coughed lightly. "Well... should we return to Silver Moon and transplant a few demon plants over?"
He glanced at Li Hao with a sigh of wonder.
The demon plants of Silver Moon were truly pitiful, starving half to death. Yet here with Li Hao, they were actually forced to halt their slaughter because there was too much energy threatening to erupt.
Otherwise, not a single one of the eleven demon plants would have survived today!
Li Hao, however, was thinking of the little tree.
The little tree was an Imperial Palace guard and was rather reluctant to leave its post.
Yet its true body was not particularly strong.
Over there, there was virtually no energy to speak of.
If the little tree's true body were brought here, the territories of the previous eleven demon plants could all be apportioned to it. Even without divine energy stones, the little tree could absorb vast amounts of energy, for heaven and earth naturally restored itself.
If demon plants had been free to roam at will, those in Silver Moon would have rushed out long ago to suck the central provinces of Heavenly Star bone-dry!
There was another consideration: Redwood had recovered far too much.
Li Hao had no desire to grant it further opportunities to regenerate.
Right now, the situation was already dangerous—they were playing with fire.
To be sure, with two puppets alongside Li Hao and the others, they could still put up a fight. But if Redwood continued absorbing energy and origin force until it stepped into the next realm, that would be true self-destruction.
Once it became a Great Sage, it would be an insurmountable disaster.
As matters stood, while it had absorbed a great deal of origin force, Li Hao had kept a guard up, preventing it from siphoning imperishable substance. Now that the origin path had vanished, strengthening one's origin could restore strength, but advancing further was extraordinarily difficult, and enhancing the true body was harder still.
The origin path could provide them no support. Even if their origin path truly stepped into the Sage realm, their physical form could not keep pace, leaving their strength gain limited.
Li Hao was guarding specifically against Redwood achieving a breakthrough.
Right now, however, origin force was so abundant that even Black Panther could barely hold any more. Yet slaying demon plants without claiming the harvest was pointless slaughter. Li Hao was currently carrying the true bodies of five Immortal trees, packed with abundant imperishable substance. He feared Redwood might succumb to wicked intent and take a desperate gamble to kill him on the spot.
Five trees might not be enough to help it advance.
What about eleven?
Redwood could not act alone and relied entirely on Li Hao's assistance. But once Li Hao gathered all eleven true bodies, it was not impossible that greed would overcome it.
Li Hao had calculated every angle with utmost clarity.
The excessive density of energy was one reason; guarding against a mutiny from Redwood was another. Were it not for that, killing another two or three before returning to Silver Moon wouldn't have been too late.
Hearing Director Zhou's suggestion, Li Hao nodded. "I will take it into consideration!"
Redwood sounded somewhat regretful. "Then we're letting those fellows off lightly! Anyone who dared offend the Governor-General deserved to die!"
Li Hao could not tell whether it genuinely felt that way or merely hoped he would amass more imperishable substance so it could reap the benefits later.
Regardless, Li Hao chose to call an end to the slaughter for now.
This incident had also made him realize that the existence of these demon plants was not entirely a bad thing. By frantically gorging on void energy, they actually delayed the progress of the second resurgence, which counted as a blessing in disguise.
Another matter was the demon plants in Heavenly Star Town: unless the issue of the mineral vein was resolved, they could not be slaughtered indiscriminately!
Once they were wiped out and the great mine's energy spilled over with no demon plants to absorb it, the mine could easily collapse on its own.
Fortunately, he hadn't acted rashly last time. Chen Zhongtian had previously invited Li Hao as a guest to slay his clan's demon plant; had they done so, disastrous consequences might have followed.
Nor was that all!
Li Hao mused inwardly: there was also the Wind and Cloud Pavilion.
Nine times out of ten, a demon plant dwelled within the Wind and Cloud Pavilion's ruin as well, its strength unknown. Slaying it would likewise leave energy unabsorbed and spawn an energy tide. Therefore, thorough preparations had to be made before striking.
It would be best to bring along a half-starved demon plant, slay the target, and station the starving one there to prevent an energy surge in that sector.
As for half-starved demon plants... Silver Moon had the most!
At this thought, Li Hao smiled. Having so many demon plants in Silver Moon actually had an advantage: every single one was starving to death, and once stationed in a location, they could instantly drain the area's energy clean!
If the second resurgence wanted to arrive early, then unless the great mine exploded, it could simply dream on.
If all the Silver Moon demon plants were relocated here, then to put it bluntly, reaching the second resurgence within several centuries would be an uphill battle.
No matter how much energy there was, those creatures would devour every last drop.
...
Soon, the group returned to the Lin residence.
Li Hao escorted Redwood back inside.
The party then departed swiftly.
As they rushed toward the City of Supernaturals, Lin Hongyu could no longer restrain herself—or perhaps deliberately chose not to hide it—and asked with apparent candor, "Did the Governor-General halt the slaughter out of concern over... Lord Redwood?"
Li Hao replied calmly, "Never test the heart of a demon plant. When I stowed away the trunk of the fifth demon plant, Redwood grew unsettled. It had already ceased absorbing origin force; whether we continued killing or not made no practical difference to it. Continuing was, in fact, a risk. Yet it remained urgent, eager for me to press on... What do you think would happen if I had kept going?"
Lin Hongyu nodded. "'Those not of our kind are sure to harbor different minds!' Unless one possesses the absolute strength to suppress them, the Governor-General's caution is entirely justified. Formidable though you are, a fully restored Immortal remains exceedingly difficult to handle today. The Governor-General truly possesses peerless genius."
Li Hao turned his head to look at her and smiled. "No, you, Lin Hongyu, are the peerless genius!"
Lin Hongyu smiled shyly. "The Governor-General flatters me!"
Li Hao cursed inwardly. This woman was sharper than anyone.
Cunning as a ghost!
The moment Li Hao declared they would stop killing, she had likely deduced that his wariness was aimed primarily at Redwood. Fearing she might be dragged down with it, she had offered that line about 'different minds' precisely so Li Hao would sever any association between her and Redwood.
Among those present, the two puppets almost certainly hadn't seen through Li Hao's intentions, and Sky Sword probably hadn't either. The others were hard to say, but this woman had seen through it at a single glance.
No wonder she held the seat of City Lord.
Lin Hongyu did not belabor the point, saying promptly, "Governor-General, I will immediately arrange for people to seal off the other eleven clans. However, this seal cannot last too long. In time, word will inevitably leak."
"Mm, that's fine. Once I deal with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, it won't matter if the other factions find out!"
Li Hao smiled faintly. "For now, just ensure news does not spread. As for the million supernaturals in the city... issue a bounty announcement later, claiming the Council of Elders has been formed to reward them. Lure all the heinous villains, troublemakers, and insubordinate elements into the ruin under the guise of cultivation, and butcher every last one!"
A chill ran through Lin Hongyu's heart. Ruthless as she was, Li Hao was far more ruthless.
Once those troublemakers, rebels, and criminals were put down, the rest would have no choice but to go with the flow.
"Rest assured, Governor-General!"
Lin Hongyu added, "However, on my own... I fear my strength will fall short. Might the Governor-General consider leaving Senior Earth-Overturning Sword behind to assist me and coordinate our efforts?"
Li Hao smiled.
Hong Yitang smiled as well.
This woman was truly fascinating.
A peak six-element expert claiming her strength fell short?
Right now, there might not be a single Divine Power expert left in the city, and news hadn't leaked. The Lin Clan still had two Divine Power experts remaining; counting her, that made three. Where was the shortfall in strength?
Yet since she had raised the matter, Li Hao pondered briefly before answering, "Martial Uncle Hong still needs to move with me. As for your side..."
He thought it over. Lin Hongyu was simply offering him peace of mind.
Whom should he assign to oversee the City of Supernaturals alongside her?
At this juncture, Li Hao realized that the personnel he could truly deploy were actually few.
Though he seemed surrounded by many experts, when it came to critical moments, those he could genuinely rely on were limited.
For instance, right now, who could stay behind to hold the fort?
Who could cooperate with Lin Hongyu to swallow and digest the City of Supernaturals?
Scanning his options, Hou Xiaochen might do, and Director Zhou could manage as well. But they still had other adversaries to confront, including the Wind and Cloud Pavilion; leaving either behind would draw undue attention, given their considerable renown.
Sky Sword was out of the question—he would likely be played for a fool by Lin Hongyu. The woman was simply too shrewd.
At this moment, Director Zhou spoke up. "Governor-General, in my view... why not pay a visit back to Silver Moon? First, we need demon plants! Second... let Commander Yu come!"
"Commander Yu?"
"Correct!"
Director Zhou nodded. "The City of Supernaturals requires a formidable figure to oversee it. With City Lord Lin handling pacification, someone else is needed for the purges! Commander Yu has overseen Silver Moon for years—decisive in slaughter, sparse with words, yet entirely trustworthy. He possesses years of military command experience, knows that a tender heart cannot lead soldiers, yet adheres strictly to rules and moderation. Furthermore, we can equip a portion of the Silver Moon Army with armor... With Commander Yu holding the fort, even if a supernatural uprising breaks out, he can resolve the crisis and suppress them!"
"This... is something martial masters of the underworld cannot match!"
At this moment, he pulled no punches.
Indeed, this was not something underworld martial artists could handle. Powerful though they might be, when faced with riots and chaos, they might only know how to kill.
Slaughter was a potent measure, but it did not necessarily resolve turmoil.
Huang Yu had led troops to put down numerous rebellions; he was the linchpin that had kept the Silver Moon military orderly and disciplined. He was simply taciturn, rarely making personal demands. Back when they slew the Golden Palm, he had departed swiftly without lingering, choosing to return and continue guarding Silver Moon.
Among the Four Protectors of Silver Moon, Kong Jie was the most impulsive; Hou Xiaochen possessed both intellect and martial prowess, yet carried a touch of chivalric wanderlust; Director Zhao was a consummate schemer; while Huang Yu was a pure soldier through and through.
Li Hao considered it and nodded!
It had to be said, had Director Zhou not brought it up, he wouldn't have thought of Commander Yu. But once mentioned, Li Hao felt he was indeed an ideal choice.
Huang Yu—the 'Maneater' among the three grand commanders.
The moniker was gruesome, yet he had genuinely cowed the Silver Moon martial arts world in those years. When the time came to strike, he was brutally severe; ruthless, yet never killing indiscriminately. His reputation loomed larger than the Laughing Monster or the Bedridden Ghost, yet remarkably few knew his true identity.
Virtually all who saw his face had died, for laying eyes upon him meant one's crimes were beyond redemption, and Huang Yu rarely showed mercy. The romantic notions of underworld brotherhood held no sway with him.
Li Hao thought to himself: *Right, how could I have forgotten about him?*
Lin Hongyu's brows lifted slightly, and she soon smiled. "I have long heard of Commander Yu's illustrious name. Should Commander Yu be willing to come to the City of Supernaturals, Hongyu will naturally assist him with all her heart, delivering the City of Supernaturals whole and stable into the Governor-General's hands, so as not to squander your painstaking efforts."
Li Hao smiled. "Do not misunderstand, City Lord Lin. Even when Commander Yu arrives, he will only step forward to quell riots in the event of an uprising. At all other times, City Lord Lin's word remains law!"
Lin Hongyu moved to say more, but Li Hao laughed. "Let it be settled then! It seems I must make a trip back to Silver Moon. A pity there is no teleportation array; every long journey is a waste of precious time."
Fortunately, he possessed the Earth-Drilling Shuttle now, though its consumption was immense.
Traveling back to Silver Moon would require a dozen or two traverses, consuming one to two million divine energy stones. Li Hao was rather reluctant to spend that, but the speed was unmatched—at maximum reach, a single traverse covered a thousand li.
Even so, rushing back with all his might on his own would take less than a day.
As they spoke, the group returned to their previous location.
The Third Elder seemed to have regained his composure by now. Seeing them, his face was no longer quite so pale, and he hurriedly bowed to Li Hao. "Greetings, Governor-General! May the Governor-General enjoy boundless health!"
"..."
Li Hao chuckled and offered reassuring words. "The Third Elder is far too polite. As an elder of City Lord Lin, you are an elder to me, Li Hao. Today, only a few Divine Power experts remain in the Lin Clan, and the vast City of Supernaturals still requires the Lin Clan to maintain stability. Assist City Lord Lin well. Once the realm is pacified, City Lord Lin's role in helping me secure the City of Supernaturals will be of tremendous merit. The Lin Clan's contributions will be paramount, and great blessings shall follow in the days to come."
The Third Elder's face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly replied, "The Governor-General's praise is too kind! I... this subordinate will certainly assist Hong... the City Lord with all my heart!"
Li Hao nodded with a smile. "While we were gone, did anyone come snooping?"
"No... though members of other clans drew close earlier. I scolded them away, claiming the experts of the various clans were sparring and required time, and were not to be disturbed..."
"Good, that is well!"
Li Hao looked toward Lin Hongyu. "Then I shall leave the matters here in your hands. Clean up the loose ends thoroughly, City Lord Lin. Whether you have people impersonate the experts or continue dragging everyone into meetings, the pretext is yours to decide. In the short term—at least until I deal with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion—I expect news of the City of Supernaturals to remain contained!"
"Without fail!" Lin Hongyu nodded earnestly.
Seeing that she seemed to hesitate, Li Hao suddenly smiled. "Once I settle the matters at hand, City Lord, you may come find me in Heavenly Star City. The method of divine characters is no great secret."
Lin Hongyu was overjoyed!
That was precisely what she had desired. Having seen the others employ it earlier without requiring sacred weapons to protect their meridians, her heart had been stirred. Now that Li Hao had offered it of his own accord, delight filled her.
*This man is truly brilliant.*
Before she had even spoken, he already knew what she sought. No wonder he had risen so swiftly in such a short span: a powerhouse who could bring you benefits, swiftly slay formidable foes, and grant you a glimpse of the future... Throwing her lot in with him had indeed been the right choice.
"Many thanks, Governor-General!"
"You are too polite. It is only right."
Li Hao chuckled. Beside them, Director Zhou and the others smiled as well. Director Zhou, in particular, was filled with感慨. The last time Li Hao returned, one could barely discern any kingly aura about him.
That was why he had spoken so much back then. Yet before long, a sovereign bearing had risen around Li Hao.
In a brief window of time, he had captured the hearts of numerous powerhouses, compelling them to strive alongside him.
Benefits, personal loyalty, a future, radiant prospects...
All of these had been displayed by Li Hao within a short period.
Li Hao had truly grown.
Employing both grace and intimidation, he had swiftly drawn everyone onto a single united front: the veteran martial masters of Silver Moon, underworld rovers like Sky Sword, seasoned bureaucrats like Hou Xiaochen, Yao Si, and Chen Zhongtian...
And now, even Lin Hongyu, a local overlord holding sway over a region, had been promptly brought into his fold.
It could not be described as anything less than swift; it could not be described as anything less than formidable.
The Three Great Organizations, the Nine Departments and the imperial family, the Seven Sacred Mountains... now, they might truly have to join forces if they hoped to withstand Li Hao's surging ascent.
"Time waits for no one, so I will not linger!"
He needed to relocate demon plants here to siphon the impending energy tide, and he also needed to fetch Huang Yu. Going to Silver Moon happened to resolve both matters at once. As for Sky Sword Mountain... let the jujube tree stay there for now.
Had he not needed to return to Silver Moon, going there would have been closer, but since he was heading to Silver Moon anyway, he might as well settle everything there directly.
"Take care, Governor-General!"
Lin Hongyu and the Third Elder bowed together in farewell. Li Hao activated the Earth-Drilling Shuttle once more, carrying his companions swiftly away.
...
Once they were gone, the Third Elder let out a sudden sigh. "Hongyu... you... I understand your intentions. But had we not killed the First Elder and the rest, our Lin Clan would boast a full eleven Divine Power experts. Even throwing our lot in with the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, we would have held a prominent seat. Now... the Silver Moon martial masters are numerous. Look at their terrifying strength; after all, they are of one family."
Lin Hongyu said calmly, "Third Elder, you do not understand. None of those men were any good. Some had even forged feuds with the Silver Moon martial masters. Once Governor-General Li investigated, he wouldn't have spared them either! Since that was the case, it was far better for me to personally eliminate them as a pledge of allegiance. That way, Governor-General Li cannot hold anything against the remaining Lin Clan members. Furthermore... a pack of deadweights with their heads filled with dreams of empire and supremacy would have brought ruin upon us sooner or later! You saw for yourself how immense these people's strength truly is. Do you really believe... our Lin Clan possessed the qualifications to contend for supremacy?"
The Third Elder shook his head and sighed. "I never imagined... truly never imagined. It was too horrifying! Nearly a hundred Divine Power experts, slaughtered like sheep in mere moments!"
At that moment, he had truly been scared witless.
He smiled bitterly. "What a dogshit Wind and Cloud Roll! What garbage! Earth-Overturning Sword, Sky Sword, and that Zhou Chuan—all of them were absurdly powerful! I feel... not one of them is weaker than you. Yet some weren't even on the roll, while others were ranked in the forties or fifties, lower even than the patriarchs of the other clans. That dogshit Wind and Cloud Pavilion ranked them completely at random!"
Had it not been for the Wind and Cloud Roll, how could they have grown so arrogant?
On the roll, aside from Lin Hongyu who was ranked near the top, several other clan patriarchs had also made the cut with fairly high rankings. The Twelve Great Clans had looked at it and thought, *We aren't weak at all!*
That was why the City of Supernaturals had so readily agreed to form the Council of Elders. If they weren't weak, then they too would contend for supremacy. Previously, they had feared the Nine Departments, the imperial family, and the Three Great Organizations. But now... *Heh, do we look afraid of you?*
Lin Hongyu sighed softly. "Third Elder, do you truly believe... this roll was actually produced by the Wind and Cloud Pavilion?"
"Eh?"
"It's fake!"
The Third Elder was stunned. *How could that be?!*
"It was almost certainly fabricated by the Governor-General."
Lin Hongyu chuckled faintly. "Back then, the Wind and Cloud Pavilion was clearly targeting the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. When the roll was published, we all found it strange how three seven-element experts suddenly appeared. Now I understand—that roll was entirely fabricated. The genuine roll was likely... never circulated at all. The Governor-General keeps talking about eliminating the Wind and Cloud Pavilion precisely to deny them the chance to release a second roll. He intends to kill them before they can."
The Third Elder could hardly believe his ears!
"How could that be?"
"Why couldn't it?"
Lin Hongyu gave a light laugh. "As long as he seized the source and prevented their roll from circulating, the roll he printed naturally became the real one. The Wind and Cloud Pavilion had no way to alter that. Even if they spread the real one, no one would believe them, and the roll's credibility would be completely ruined! Thus, even if they were furious, they had no choice but to endure it, waiting for the next roll update to circulate it ahead of Governor-General Li!"
The Third Elder finally understood, drawing a sharp breath. "Such methods... truly brilliant!"
Now, the entire realm had its eyes glued to the three seven-element experts, largely overlooking and underestimating Li Hao. On the surface, Li Hao had kept quiet lately, so no one had paid him any mind.
In reality, he hadn't been idle in the slightest behind the scenes.
"Indeed!" Lin Hongyu sighed with emotion. "I only just realized it myself. Furthermore, Chen Zhongtian has been following him all this time... It seems the Inspectorate has secretly joined the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office as well. Add to that the City of Supernaturals and Sky Sword Villa... with Silver Moon backing him from the rear, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office is likely the strongest among the contemporary factions today! As for ancient backing, he is currently the only one capable of slaying true bodies of demon plants, and he has cities like Battle Heaven City behind him. With him around, they will revive one by one in due time. Tell me... should our Lin Clan submit to him, or oppose him and await our deaths?"
"Chen Zhongtian?"
The Third Elder blinked in confusion. "Who?"
"That pretty boy!"
Lin Hongyu laughed. "Did you really fail to recognize him?"
"..."
The Third Elder searched his memory, murmuring after a long pause, "I thought he looked familiar. So it was him! To think... no wonder!"
He then chuckled. "That Chen Zhongtian is a remarkable fellow as well, exceptionally farsighted. He throws his weight behind whoever is strongest. While some might call him a fence-sitter, his choices have proven correct every single time. Back then, siding with the Nine Departments built eighty years of glory for the Inspectorate. Now, choosing the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office... perhaps... he is right once more."
Lin Hongyu nodded and said no more on the subject, quickly adding, "The key right now is to stabilize the City of Supernaturals and delay the news... Third Elder, you must cooperate with me to ensure not the slightest mishap occurs before Commander Huang Yu arrives."
"I understand!"
The next moment, Lin Hongyu's voice resonated outward: "Today, five sparring matches were held. The Divine Power experts sparred, each displaying extraordinary skills, from which this City Lord benefited immensely. Today, five Grand Elders have emerged: Patriarch Huang Ming of the Huang Clan, Patriarch Liu Yue of the Liu Clan..."
"The City of Supernaturals shall select thirty Grand Elders in total, with five matches held each day. The rest shall observe the battles of Divine Power. In six days, all Grand Elders will be decided!"
The next instant, a stir swept through the City of Supernaturals.
Five Grand Elders had been chosen today: four were clan patriarchs, but one was an overlord among rogue cultivators.
The city instantly grew lively.
Many expressed deep regret. "What a pity only prominent figures are permitted to watch! Otherwise, observing battles of Divine Power would have broadened our horizons. Five matches a day, lasting six full days!"
"Senior Heavenly Saber is truly formidable, becoming a Grand Elder as a rogue cultivator. From now on, he is a Grand Elder of the City of Supernaturals. A shame we aren't qualified to participate..."
"A rogue cultivator joining the Council of Elders is a good thing for us as well!"
"..."
The crowd buzzed with discussion, and the news spread rapidly.
On the first day, five Grand Elders had been decided in the City of Supernaturals, all of them renowned powerhouses.
As for communication jades failing to connect, word was that the City Lord's Estate had sealed off the perimeter to prevent combat footage from leaking.
With that explanation, no one thought much of it.
In any case, there were still five days left before it concluded.
As for the other eleven clans, the Divine Power experts of five had been wiped out completely.
Lin Hongyu showed no mercy to the remaining six. Under the cover of night, she took action personally, slaying every Divine Power expert stationed in those clans on the spot. Her peak six-element might was far beyond what these people could withstand.
Meanwhile, large numbers of City Guards swiftly cordoned off the remaining members of those clans within their estates. Everything was carried out without a whisper of suspicion; with everyone's attention fixed on the City Lord's Estate inside the city, no one paid any heed to the clan compounds outside.
...
Heavenly Star City.
The Imperial Palace.
Several powerhouses stepped into this place for the first time in many years.
Above the great hall, the contemporary Heavenly Star King was speaking, his primary attention fixed upon the two figures from the Military Law Department and the Administrative Department.
"The Venerable One's meaning is that even if we do not initiate the second resurgence, we must still seize some energy. The consumption among the various factions has been immense lately, leaving the Spring of Life in short supply, while Li Hao's strength continues to swell by the day..."
"Li Hao's might grows with each passing hour... If only for our own sake, we ought to take a risk, turn our weapons into jade and silk, and end this standoff. Continuing it will only benefit Li Hao."
"Right now, the City of Supernaturals is also electing Grand Elders in an attempt to contend for hegemony over the realm. The clans there are not weak either, boasting numerous Divine Power experts..."
As the Heavenly Star King spoke, Qi Pingjiang listened in silence. Only after a long while did he say, "The one guarding the mineral vein will not be easy to deal with. Our strength is meager, and what help we can offer is limited."
The Heavenly Star King smiled. "No matter! Our task is simple: clear away the soldier puppets guarding the vein! Leave that Vice Commander to the Venerable Ones; we need only clear out those soldier puppets."
The powerhouses remained silent.
At that moment, a faint pulse of mental energy rippled forth as Thorny Rose materialized into an illusory silhouette of a tree. "Having you enter together is for your own good. Moreover, the mineral vein possesses certain arrangements that perhaps only humans can breach. If we succeed, each faction shall receive five hundred drops of the Spring of Life. Furthermore, future exchanges for the Spring of Life will be set at ten thousand divine energy stones per drop! We will delay the second resurgence as long as possible, provided... we ourselves grow stronger! Otherwise, delaying holds no benefit for us. But without a delay, your strength is insufficient; should the second resurgence occur immediately, can you guarantee stepping into the Peak Realm? Or even the Immortal Realm?"
Having said this, it added, "Furthermore, it is best to release Jiang Chen. He is of division commander rank in the Heavenly Star Army and possesses a trace of the Heavenly Star Army Commander-in-Chief's bloodline. I know you may not fully trust him, which is why my intention is for you to accompany him. Restrict him as you must, but I hope everyone can cooperate and allow Jiang Chen the freedom to act..."
This was the crucial point.
A division commander!
At a critical juncture, such a figure held immense utility. The current Vice Commander had no authority to strip Jiang Chen of his division commander rank.
Once that Vice Commander was pinned down, Jiang Chen could even utilize certain measures to take charge of Heavenly Star Town.
The upper echelons of Heavenly Star Town were nearly all dead, leaving only that Vice Commander and guardian demon plants like themselves. Heavenly Star Town had originally possessed only ten division commanders, all of whom had fallen; now, Jiang Chen was the sole heir to a division commander's position.
Only with him present would there be an opportunity to seize the entire mineral vein intact.
It was best if they didn't have to share it with anyone else. Thorny Rose preferred that they swallow the vein entirely for themselves; triggering the second resurgence was merely a choice of last resort.
At these words, a refined-looking man seated above Qi Pingjiang furrowed his brows slightly. "Jiang Chen wishes to break free?"
Thorny Rose replied indifferently, "As I said, you may still keep him under control after entering. However, when necessary, you must escort him to certain critical locations... This is also what you ought to do. Would you truly rather give Li Hao and the others an opportunity, or let those fellows in Silver Moon revive instead?"
The veteran director of the Administrative Department fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "That is acceptable, under one condition: the Military Law Department and the Administrative Department require five hundred drops of the Spring of Life right now."
"Afterward—"
"No, right now!"
The veteran director remained utterly composed. "I know you possess it, and you can produce it! We need to elevate a few others to prevent complications once we descend. Produce it now, and we go down. Otherwise... continue waiting!"
Thorny Rose was incensed!
That meant both sides demanded a total of one thousand drops.
It was not that it lacked the reserves!
Yet to a demon plant, surrendering their stored Spring of Life was no different from carving out their own flesh; they loathed parting with it.
Yet this man was exceptionally resolute. After a moment of silence, it said coldly, "Fine, I agree!"
Above them, the Heavenly Star King's eyes shifted.
He could barely restrain himself.
*One thousand drops!*
*What about my imperial family?*
He wanted to raise the demand, but sensing a fury boiling in the surrounding air, he sighed inwardly and held his tongue.
Had he brought it up, Thorny Rose would likely fly into a genuine rage.
Qi Pingjiang smiled as well. "Then it is settled. In three days... we set out!"
"Why must we wait three days?"
Thorny Rose sounded irritated. Qi Pingjiang chuckled. "My son is currently at the four-element stage. Once given the Spring of Life to absorb and refine, reaching five elements will be no issue, and reaching six will depend on luck... That takes time, does it not?"
Though Thorny Rose felt that delays bred complications, having waited so many years already, it considered the request and agreed. "Three days it is!"
Without another word, the visitors took their leave one after another.
Once they were gone, a burst of mental energy erupted with sheer fury.
"A pack of mere ants, yet they dare bargain with this seat!"
The Heavenly Star King said nothing.
*If they are ants, my Jiang Clan is hardly any different.*
Of course, keeping such thoughts to himself was enough; there was no need to voice them.
He merely reflected that after the second resurgence, escaping the control of these demon plants would remain difficult. Yet without the resurgence, escaping their grip was harder still. Survival in this era was brutal; these demon plants were kings.
On second thought, every faction was in the same boat right now, which brought him a measure of relief.
As for Li Hao... heaven knew how he had reached an agreement with his demon plant, trading three thousand divine energy stones for a single drop of the Spring of Life. They had all found it utterly inconceivable, unable to fathom how he had accomplished it.
Thinking further, if his father could take command of Heavenly Star Town this time... perhaps the Jiang Clan would no longer lack such resources.
A good thing!
If this venture succeeded, the Jiang Clan would surely expand rapidly. Taking charge of Heavenly Star Town would change everything.
As for the demon plants, they still required human assistance for now.
Even if they no longer lacked divine energy stones, they still needed humans. After all, this realm still belonged to the human race, did it not?
Aside from having an overlord perched above their heads, it made little practical difference.
...
Just as the factions reached an agreement within the Imperial Palace, Li Hao was speeding toward Silver Moon.
Along the way, he took stock of his spoils.
As for the Spring of Life, slaying five demon plants hadn't yielded an excessive amount—roughly fifteen thousand drops.
Added to what he had refined previously, he had over twenty-five thousand drops.
A whole vat was nearly overflowing.
In addition, he had five true bodies of demon plants, all of Immortal grade, though considerably weaker than genuine Immortals in their prime.
There was a fair amount of origin force, all stuffed into Black Panther's belly.
As for divine energy stones, slaying so many people had yielded only about sixty million—mediocre, not particularly immense.
After killing so many experts in the City of Supernaturals, to reap only this much left Li Hao somewhat disappointed!
Of course, Black Panther, the little jujube tree, and Redwood were all sated, Director Zhou was stuffed, and the little sword was gorged as well. That, at least, was a fine harvest.
Right now, Li Hao had only brought Black Panther along.
Black Panther looked lazy and lethargic, seemingly longing for sleep.
It had eaten far too much!
It was bloated to bursting!
The creature was peculiar: it didn't require Li Hao's protection. Its strength was actually formidable—perhaps even greater than Li Hao's—yet its power was concentrated entirely within its bloodline. Only when burning its blood did it unleash tremendous might.
Under normal circumstances, its ordinary strength hovered around the peak six-element level.
Because of this, space did not slice into it.
This granted it immense freedom of movement; otherwise, it would have been confined to ruins like the others.
"Black Panther, tell me, whom should I choose to revive this time? Or should I switch cities—skip Battle Heaven City and head to the Zhao Clan's main city instead?"
At this moment, Li Hao felt some hesitation.
If he revived Battle Heaven City further this time... their strength would swell too rapidly, potentially slipping beyond his control. While Battle Heaven City had aided him immensely, Li Hao felt he could not rely entirely upon them.
That was far too dangerous!
From the very beginning, when his sole thought had been reviving Battle Heaven City, to the present day, Li Hao didn't know when he had begun harboring his own calculations.
"Woof, woof, woof!"
"You also think one shouldn't put all their eggs in one basket, right?"
Black Panther rolled its eyes. *I didn't say a thing.*
Forget it, the lad was merely asking offhandedly; he had likely made up his mind long ago. It understood Li Hao intimately—having accompanied him through every step of his growth, it perhaps knew him better than anyone.
"The little tree, the Zhao Clan's main city..."
Murmuring under his breath, Li Hao thought back to the scholar tree and its thirty-six auxiliary generals.
This time, he had harvested a full five trunks of Immortal wood.
That was extraordinary!
Yet Battle Heaven City remained the city he knew best; at the very least, he had some understanding of it.
"Must it be a demon plant that is revived? What about a human?"
Director Wang, for instance, or the Ninth Division Commander.
Though the Ninth Division Commander had beaten him twice, he felt... the man wasn't too bad.
Was imperishable substance useless to them?
Previously, they had mentioned that while their physical bodies had decayed, having sufficient imperishable substance could restore their flesh. With the imperishable substance of five Immortals paired with limitless energy, could it truly fail to revive a single person?
A Great Sage might be difficult, but the Ninth Division Commander and his peers were merely Immortals.
At this moment, Li Hao reached a vague decision: perhaps... he shouldn't continue reviving demon plants. The gulf between humans and the demon race was simply too vast, and disasters could easily arise.
Even if five trunks of Immortal wood could revive five formidable demon plants, while only sufficing to revive a single human—and merely an Immortal at that—making the cost-effectiveness terribly low, Li Hao had still made his choice.
Perhaps... he should revive a human!
As for Jiang Yingli and her companion, he wouldn't consider them for now. First, he was unfamiliar with them; second, the two were bound to puppet bodies that were difficult to sever. Perhaps only a Great Sage could accomplish it, and that Dean of Academic Affairs might not be willing right now.
Carrying these thoughts, Li Hao sped swiftly toward Silver Moon.
After an absence of three days, he was returning once more.
Surely, when the Ninth Division Commander and the others saw him, they would be overjoyed.
Chapter 277